Canadian Chef serves aboard COMFORT during CP-15

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

08.21.2015

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Maddelin Angebrand

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Chef Samuel Glass, a professor at Centennial College's School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts in Canada is serving alongside Navy Culinary Specialists (CSs) aboard the Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) during Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15) from Aug. 14 through 22.

Glass, a native of Canada and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has shared his culinary knowledge with CSs across the Navy aboard 18 different ships and five shore-based galleys. During his nine-day stay aboard Comfort, Glass is teaching the CSs different cooking techniques to enhance the food they already serve, while sharing his experiences gained from more than 35 years of cooking in a variety of culinary settings.

"It is rewarding for me to be here on this mission sharing my craft with young CSs," said Glass. "They have a desire to learn and are motivated to try new things. When they say 'Chef, we really liked that recipe, we'd like to try it again,' that is what I find to be satisfying."

Chief Culinary Specialist Darryl Smith, the leading chief petty officer of the Food Service Department aboard Comfort said Glass' contributions to the galley not only improve morale and educate the food service team, but they also positively affect the overall CP-15 mission.

"This mission requires us to be at the top of our game in every aspect," said Smith. "Chef Glass is helping us provide the best food service that we can to the crew, which we hope better enables them to go out and do the mission on a daily basis."

Another aspect of the food service department is providing meals to all patients and their escorts that embark aboard the ship to receive surgeries as part of the CP-15 mission. Lt. Alison Park, a registered nurse and native of Cincinnati, Ohio, who works in the post operative patient ward aboard Comfort, said food service is an essential part of patient care.

"These patients are here receiving surgeries that sometimes require a modified diet prior to or following a procedure," said Park. "So providing them with those meals is a vital part of their care while they are here with us."

Glass, who plans to volunteer on future CP missions, is not the only Canadian serving aboard Comfort during CP-15. Several Canadian military medical professionals have embarked aboard the ship working alongside other joint-military members and non-governmental organization volunteers to provide care in several CP-15 mission stops.

"Although my role here is different, I am proud to represent Canada and support this mission in my own way," said Glass. "At the end of the day, it's about the experience, the friendships you make and the fulfillment you get out of doing your part."

Continuing Promise is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian-civil assistance, subject matter expert exchanges, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support and disaster response to partner nations and to show the United States' continued support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

For more news from Continuing Promise, visit www.navy.mil/local/cp/.

• Date Taken: 08.21.2015
• Date Posted: 08.24.2015 14:44
• Story ID: 174064
• Location: SANTO DOMINGO, DO